SR0696 LRB093 23539 CSA 53535 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois
3 were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Carl Frederick
4 McFerren of Chicago on Friday, February 13, 2004; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Mr. McFerren was born on March 6, 1933 in Chicago;
6 he was the only son of Bland and Fannye Mae McFerren; during
7 the mid-1930s, the McFerren family settled in Morgan Park; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Mr. McFerren attended Shoop Elementary and Morgan
9 Park high schools; he was a gifted student who loved music; he
10 studied classical piano for eleven years and became an
11 accomplished pianist; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Following high school, and to the delight of his
13 parents, Mr. McFerren was accepted into Alabama's prestigious
14 Tuskegee Institute; he studied Structural Engineering, but
15 majored in Jazz and Hot Rods; and
 
16     WHEREAS, In 1954, Mr. McFerren entered the United States
17 Army; after basic training, he was sent to Germany, where he
18 spent the rest of his term; following an Honorable Discharge in
19 May of 1956, he returned to his family in Chicago; and
 
20     WHEREAS, In 1951, he met Vivian Warren and soon knew that
21 he had met his partner for life; the two were married on July
22 25, 1953; during their five decade marriage, the couple was
23 blessed with four children and six grandchildren; and
 
24     WHEREAS, During the first few years of married life, Mr.
25 McFerren worked as a bus driver for the Chicago Transit
26 Authority; in 1961, he landed his dream job when he was
27 accepted into the academy of the Chicago Fire Department; and
 
28     WHEREAS, Mr. McFerren loved being a fireman and relished

 

 

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1 all facets of the job; although lightweight in stature, he was
2 also fearless, a rare combination, which often proved useful;
3 his ability and willingness to jump onto a roof, climb out of a
4 window, or squeeze into a small space soon earned him the
5 nickname "Fly", a moniker he wore proudly; after 31 years of
6 dedicated service, he retired in May of 1992; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Mr. McFerren spent his retirement doing the things
8 he loved best, such as fishing, camping, gardening, attending
9 Chicago Bulls and Bears games, enjoying back yard barbeques,
10 reminiscing with his buddies, or just spending time at home; he
11 was happiest when doing simple things, surrounded by his
12 friends and family, especially his grandchildren; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The passing of Carl Frederick McFerren will be
14 deeply felt by many, especially his wife of fifty years, Vivian
15 Warren McFerren; his daughters, Sigrid and Apryll; his sons,
16 Carl Demetri (Yvette) and Warren (Libby); his grandchildren,
17 Andrea, Simone, Rachel, Carl Jr., Sydney, and Warren Matthew; a
18 host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends; and his
19 beloved cat, Bruno; therefore, be it
 
20     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
21 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
22 Carl Frederick McFerren along with all who knew and loved him
23 and extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends;
24 and be it further
 
25     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
26 presented to the family of Carl Frederick McFerren as an
27 expression of our deepest sympathy.